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Teacher Resource Bank
GCE Chemistry
PSA11: A2 Inorganic Chemistry
Investigate the chemistry of copper
compounds
A2 Inorganic Chemistry

PSA11 Investigate the chemistry of copper compounds


klm Copyright 2009 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.
1
Technical Sheet

Investigate the chemistry of copper compounds

Whenever possible, students should work individually.
If it is essential to work in a pair or in a small group, because of the availability of
apparatus, supervisors must be satisfied that they are able to assess the contribution
from each student to the practical activity.

Requirements
copper(II) sulfate solution
copper(I) oxide powder
copper(II) oxide powder
copper powder
concentrated hydrochloric acid
dilute sulfuric acid
sodium carbonate solution
sodium hydroxide solution
concentrated (880) ammonia solution
1,6-diaminohexane solution (aqueous)

Two 250 cm
3
beakers
Test tubes
Teat pipettes
Bunsen burner



The concentrations of the dilute solutions in these reactions need to be sufficient to
ensure that an obvious reaction takes place. In practice, this is likely to mean 1 mol
dm
-3
for most solutions.

The method refers to test tubes, but Centres may choose to use boiling tubes.

Centres are expected to carry out and be responsible for their
own safety risk assessments.




A2 Inorganic Chemistry

PSA11 Investigate the chemistry of copper
compounds





Student Sheet

Investigate the chemistry of copper compounds.

Introduction

Copper is found in small amounts in nature as the free metal, but more commonly in
minerals such as copper pyrites and malachite. The separated metal is purified by
electrolysis.

Copper forms compounds in which its oxidation state is +1 by the loss of its single 4s
electron to leave a filled 3d sub-level. However, the copper(I) ion is unstable in
aqueous solution and disproportionates (by simultaneous oxidation and reduction of
the copper(I) ion) to aqueous copper(II) ions and copper metal i.e copper(0).

Copper forms the copper(II) ion with an oxidation state of +2 and in aqueous solution
it is this hydrated ion which is the more stable and gives rise to the familiar coloured
complex.

This series of experiments explores some of the chemistry of copper compounds.

It is the responsibility of the student to carry out and be responsible for
their own safety risk assessment before carrying out this experiment.
Wear safety glasses at all times. Assume that all of the reagents and
liquids are toxic, corrosive and flammable.

Experiment
For each of the following test tube experiments, you should make a neat record of
your observations, which should include what is seen before, during and after any
reaction that has taken place.

You are advised to prepare a Table to record your observations before carrying out
any practical work.

A2 Inorganic Chemistry

PSA11 Investigate the chemistry of copper
compounds





Part 1 - The reaction of alkaline solutions with Cu(II) ions in aqueous
solution.
Place approximately 1 cm
3
of copper(II) sulfate solution into three separate test
tubes and label them Tube 1, Tube 2 and Tube 3.

a) Add sodium carbonate solution to Tube 1, dropwise with shaking until
in excess.
b) Add sodium hydroxide solution to Tube 2, dropwise with shaking until
in excess.
c) Working in a fume cupboard, add concentrated ammonia solution to
Tube 3, dropwise until in excess. Do not remove this test tube from
the fume cupboard until it has been rinsed thoroughly.

Part 2 - Cu(II) to Cu(I)
a) Place 10 drops of copper(II) sulfate solution in a test tube and add
concentrated hydrochloric acid dropwise with care and with shaking until in
excess (no further colour change will occur).
b) Add one small spatula measure of copper powder to this solution and boil it
gently for five minutes.
c) Slowly pour the resultant solution into approximately 50 cm
3
of water in a
beaker.
d) Place a small volume of the solution containing the suspended white solid
into a test tube and working in a fume cupboard, quickly add a similar
volume of concentrated ammonia solution. Leave the tube to stand for
several minutes and then shake it gently. Do not remove the tube from the
fume cupboard until it has been rinsed thoroughly.

Part 3 - Ligand Substitution
a) Place 10 drops of copper(II) sulfate solution in a test tube and add an excess
of concentrated hydrochloric acid to the tube. Pour the contents of the tube
into approximately 50 cm
3
of water in a beaker.
b) Place 10 drops of copper(II) sulfate solution in a test tube and add an excess
of 1,6-diaminohexane solution to the tube.

Part 4 - Cu(I) to Cu(II)
a) Place one small spatula measure of copper(I) oxide in a test tube and add
approximately 3 cm
3
of dilute sulfuric acid. Warm the contents of the tube
carefully.
b) Repeat the experiment with copper(II) oxide and dilute sulfuric acid and
compare your results with those from part 4(a).

A2 Inorganic Chemistry

PSA11 Investigate the chemistry of copper
compounds




Copyright 2009 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. klm
4
Teacher Notes and Marking Guidance

The specific marking guidance in the specification is as follows

2 marks: All experiments are carried out competently.
The quantities of reagents are appropriate.
All experiments are carried out safely and with due care.
Nearly all of the observations are correct.

1 mark: One of the areas of the task is performed poorly.
The quantities of reagents are inappropriate OR
Some of the experiments are carried out in a careless manner OR
Only some of the observations are correct.

0 marks: At least two of the areas of the task are performed poorly.
The quantities of reagents are inappropriate.
Many of the experiments are carried out in a careless manner.
Few of the observations are correct.

Guidance for Teachers

Teachers are expected to exercise professional judgement in assessing the
competence of their candidates in following the instructions.

Candidates should have been given guidance in the correct use of equipment and
this guidance can continue during the practical session for which this PSA forms a
part.

If, however, the guidance required is fundamental or frequent, then the student
should not be awarded 2 marks.

Judgement of 2 marks, 1 mark or 0 marks will depend on whether the candidate
collects sensible quantities of reagents for each test,
carries out each test tube reaction with care and with due regard to safety,
is able to make and record correct observations.
N.B. For 2 marks Nearly all of the observations are correct should be
interpreted as two-thirds or more are correct. Correct observations will vary
depending on reagents and teachers should either carry out the experiment
themselves or make sensible judgements about the acceptable responses.

Student performance should not be judged on the basis of their ability to explain the
observations or to write the formula of any copper-containing reactants and
A2 Inorganic Chemistry

PSA11 Investigate the chemistry of copper
compounds




klm Copyright 2009 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.
5
products or to write balanced chemical equations. This aspect of their study is an
appropriate extension of the practical activity rather than a measure of their
practical competence.

It is important to remember when marking these practical exercises that PSA is
about student competence and that for a student to score full marks on this exercise
perfection is neither expected nor required.